Cleaning ditches along driveway

[coolbrze]

What's the best implement for cleaning out the drainage ditch (of leaves, sticks, & debris) that runs parallel to the side of my driveway?

 

[leonz]

I am unsure if it even possible to do this but a Harley rake attached/strapped to a backhoe bucket would work in a small drainage ditch; as long as your careful about the use of the retracting force of the bucket once you have the upper boom lowered into the ditch.
Short of that an asphalt or thatching rake would work. The only limitation would be the rake handle length as relates to how deep below the grade your ditch is. The thatching rake will pull everything out that it can reach.

 

[mercdv]

It kind of depends on the ditch and the debris in it. Can you post some pictures so everyone can see the ditch and what you are trying to clean out? I could throw out some suggestions but without seeing the ditch I could be recommending the wrong thing for the job. I know pics will probably help everyone make a more tailored suggestion to address your specific issue.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Pictures with some kind of scale like a 5 gallon bucket setting in it or idea of ditch depth, width, distance from drive, slopes of banks, etc.

 

[oosik]

Pictures would sure help. Where I have ditches along my mile long gravel driveway - I clean them and return "lost" gravel to the driving surface with my rear blade.

Its a Rhino 950 - 96" wide, will offset, angle, tip, aggressiveness is adjustable with hydraulic top link and reverse - weighs 1050 pounds.

 

[/pine]

I also use a rear blade where I can...but I back the tractor perpendicular to the road and the blade is parallel with the ditch...lower the blade on the far/back side of the ditch (it gets a little tricky)...
...I then slowly move forward at the same time I am using the hydraulic top link to curl the blade all the while slowly raising the 3ph...dragging the debris up and out of the ditch to the shoulder...

My blade is 6' so I clean 6' of ditch on each pull after repositioning...I then use the FEL to scoop up the debris along the shoulder

 

[FTG-05]

Pictures would sure help. Where I have ditches along my mile long gravel driveway - I clean them and return "lost" gravel to the driving surface with my rear blade.

Its a Rhino 950 - 96" wide, will offset, angle, tip, aggressiveness is adjustable with hydraulic top link and reverse - weighs 1050 pounds.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah..... Translation: OP, you need a new tractor implement. Surprised it took 5 posts to get to it!


OK seriously, prolly not a bad implement to use; it's what I would use. But then I have the EA ED 8 grader blade where you can really reach out and touch someone, like 6' or so.

And In for the pics.

 

[Thomas]

I have good luck w/rear blade that angles...just go slow.

 

[Deerherd]

Rent an excavator, with a ditching bucket. Dump the dirt/debris into your tractor’s bucket and put it where you want. If you do this every 5-7 years, you can do a much better job and cheaper than buying an implement that does a mediocre job.

 

[kthompson]

There is an implement for this. 3 pth mount run by pto. Some counties or cities use them. Some farmers use them to dig shallow ditches in fields after a crop is planted. They are very fast compared to any digging will if you can find one or hire one.